Oscar de la Renta Death: Fashion Icon Spoke of Church Being a Respite, Never Accepting Death
Fashion designer and icon Oscar de la Renta died Monday, Oct. 20 after a battle with cancer; he previously spoke about his Roman Catholic faith being a comfort to him and that the only certainties in life were birth and death.
"Yes, I had cancer," de la Renta said last year. "Right now, I am totally clean. The only realities in life are that you are born, and that you die. We always think we are going to live forever. The dying aspect we will never accept. The one thing about having this kind of warning is how you appreciate every single day of life."
The designer, the only son of seven children born to a couple in the Dominican Republic, made a name for himself with his elaborate yet tasteful designs. He managed to dress several of the first ladies of the United States, including Jacqueline Kennedy, Nancy Reagan, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama.
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After his first wife's death in 1983, de la Renta adopted a son, Moises, from an orphanage in the Dominican Republic. The boy was the light of his father's life, even following him into the fashion industry. When asked about him in a 1997 interview, de la Renta refused to comment.
"But please, I don't want to talk about Moises," he told Vivian Mcinerny of the Oregonian Staff. "I am protective of him. He is my child." However, he did note that he was always home on weekends to spend time with his family and added, "It's so important for parents to be there for young children."
De la Renta never forgot his upbringing and frequently traveled to his hometown in order to escape the hectic schedule he kept. One thing that he took comfort in? Going to church.
"My life is very hectic," he told the Oregonian Staff. "With such a pace it is difficult to get hold of yourself. But if I spend a half-hour in a church sitting quietly, I feel better."
He leaves behind son Moises, several stepchildren, and wife Annette Engelhard.
